Safety razor



May 4, 1954 G. T. RANDoL 2,677,176

SAFETY RAZOR Filed Jan. 3, 1951 INVENTOR: Glenn T. Randol,

A TTOHNEY.

Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR Glenn T. Randol, Mountain Lake Park, Md. Application January 3, 1951, Serial No. 204,123

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a safety razor and more particularly to a safety razor wherein a razor blade is securely clamped and locked in elfective cutting position between a pair of intertting spring-urged clamping elements.

In my earlier iiled pending application for patent, Serial No. 170,145 filed June 24, 1950 now matured as Patent 2,665,477 dated January 12, 1954, I have disclosed and claimed a safety razor provided with a spring-clip head in which a blade is disposed in eective cutting position. in this earlier filed application, the razor includes a razor head formed of resilient material for effectively clamping the blade in position. The present invention, on the other hand, provides a pair of rigid clamping elements urged into extended surface engagement with a razor blade by means of a split-sleeve type spring urging the clamping elements into contact with a razor blade about bearing means interposed between the clamping elements.

More particularly, the present invention includes a lower clamping member carried by, and preferably formed integrally with, a razor handle and providing upper supporting surfaces in eX- tended surface contact with a blade to support the same in shaving position. An upper clamping element cooperates with the lower clamping element to secure the blade therebetween, the clamping elements being provided with intertting securing means projecting through the blade for securing the same in position. Bearing means, preferably in the form of ball bearings, are interposed betr-reen the clamping elements at that edge of the clamping elements remote from the cutting edge of the blade, and a split-sleeve type spring encircles the remote portions of the clamping elements to urge the same into engagement about the bearing means. An elongated handle is provided for the upper of the clamping means to project in spaced relation to the razor handle to provide means for easily opening the clamping elements my movement of the same about the bearing means.

It will be seen that the instant razor possesses several :desirable and novel features. For example, the utilization of a bearing and splitsleeve type clamping means provides easy opening action, while at the same time accommodating the positive, interlocked securing of the blade in cutting position. Securing of the blade in position is further enhanced by the abutment at that end of the blade remote from the cutting edge thereof with an interior surface of the clamping spring for substantially the entire dimension of the blade to reinforce the blade, thus preventing blade displacement and blade slanting or tilting movement within the razor. Further, the entire blade cutting edge is exposed for effective cutting action, while the unitary razor post and supporting plate construction is simple in manufacture and inexpensive in cost.

1t is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved safety razor utilizing spring clip urged clamping elements for securing a razor blade in cutting position.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor wherein a blade is positioned between a pair of clamping elements movable about bearing means interposed therebetween, the clamping elements being urged into clamping relation by spring means acting directly on the clamping elements to urge the same into interiitting engagement with the blade.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a safety razor including a pair of clamping plates having bearing means interposed therebetween and a split-sleeve type spring urging the clamping members into engagement, the clamping members carrying blade positioning and securing means which project completely through the blade adjacent the blade cutting edge.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor having spring-urged clamping members movable about bearing means interposed therebetween into clamping relation with the razor blade, the blade being securely clamped in position by abutment of the non-Cutting blade edge with the means urging the clamping members together, and one of the clamping members carrying means extending completely through the blade for indexing the same to an accurate cutting position and to secure blade in this position.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the razor of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the razor of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the razor of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane IV-IV of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view similai' to Figure taken along the plane VI-V of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view taken along the plane VII- VII of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 4, illustrating in detail the cutting edge of the blade adjusted in effective cutting position by the taper-ended pin associated with the clamping members;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Figure 3, illustrating the razor in open position for the ejection or insertion of a razor blade; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a blade adapted for utilization with the razor of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings:

In Figure l, the reference numeral i@ refers generally to a razor of the present invention, including a handle l! and a razor head indicated generally at I2 and carried by the handle. More particularly, the handle il is joined to the head l2 by means of an ups'tanding post i3 projecting from a terminal reduced portion it of the handie il. rThe handle H is provided with a knurled peripheral gripping surface and the handle is preferably hollow, to telescopically receive the. post I3 for attachment thereto.

The post i3 has integrally formed there'-.'vitii a forwardly projecting portion iii having an upper surface l?! which is inclined downwardly and forwardly with respect to the post l l for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. rf'he portion i6 of the post forms a part of a lower clamping plate 2i) which has a second portion 2l depressed with respect to the portion and a second forward portion 22 which has an upper surface aligned with the surface ld of the portion I6. rlhe clamping plate 2i) terminates in a downwardly displaced forward serrated guard lip 23 which is provided with an elongated central slot 24, also for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained.

That portion 22 of the plate 2S which is aligned with the portion i6 is provided with a centrally located generally circular aperture 2li (Figure e) which is in spaced relation to the slot 24, and the plane portion IG is provided with upturned, integrally formed marginal flanges 26 alongside each edge thereof, while the portion 22 is provided with similar upturned marginal flanges 2".' (see Figure 9).

The lower clamping plate 2S is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 2B generally aligned with the portions i3 and 22 and terminating in a downturned lip 29 which is provided with at least two longitudinally spaced recesses 30 in closely spaced relation to each of the rear marginal edges thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained.

An upper clamping plate 3i is provided for cooperation with the lower clamping plate 2d, the upper plate including a substantially plane intermediate portion 32 having a forwardly depending lip 32a bearing at its forward end a depending, generally cylindrical, taper-pointed pin 33 dimensioned for entrance within the aperture f5 of the bottom clamping plate 2i), the novel purposes of said pin will hereinafter become apparent. The plate 3l is provided with a central rearwardly extending ange 34 of reduced width to be hereinafter more fully described, and the rear plate portions are to be depressed, as at 35, on each side of the ange 34, the depressed portions 35 terminating in upwardly inclined lips 35a each having recesses 36 formed therein corresponding to and registering with the recesses 3G.

The lower clamping plate 26 and the upper clamping plate 3l are adapted to receive therebetween bearing elements 31, preferably in the form of ball bearings, seated in the cooperating and registering recesses 3i) and 33 of the plates, respectively. A generally cylindrical, longitudinally split, sleeve-type spring 38 formed of resilient material, such as spring steel or the like, contacts both the lower plate 2) and the upper plate 3| at approximately the line of juncture between the lips 29 and 35a, respectively, and the plates. More particularly, the edges of the sleeve defining the split therein are spread, so that the sleeve is insertable over the plate lips, and the sleeve encircles the bearing elements 32 so as to urge the plates 2liv and tl together about the bearing elements as a fulcrum.

The upper plate flange 313 is deformed, as at 39, to conform to the contour of the spring sleeve 38, the terminal end 4B of the flange depending from the sleeve to provide an actuating arm which, upon movement toward the forward portion of the razor head l2. opens the clamping plates 2&3 and 3i against the action of the spring sleeve 38.

A razor blade l (Figure 10) is provided for utilization with the razor il). The blade is provided with a forward sharpened cutting edge 42, and an aperture c3 substantially the same size as the aperture 25 formed in the bottom clamping plate 2f) and positioned centrally of the blade immediately adjacent the cutting edge [12. The rear butt edge 4&3 of the blade is notched or recessed, as at 45, to receive the bearing elements 3l therein. The positioning of the blade within the razor structure will be evident from an inspection of Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, in that the rear unsharpened edge lill of the blade abuts the interior surface of the spring sleeve 38, the notches l5 receive the bearing elements 3l therein, and the conically-pointed pin 33 extends through the blade aperture 43 into the aperture 25 of the bottom plate 20 in registry therewith. Further, the blade is adjusted into effective cutting position by engagement of the tapered portion of the pin 33 with the margin of the blade aperture 43 in aligning the same with the bottom clamping plate aperture 25, while the full diameter of said pin when projected through the apertures 43-25 is eifective to secure the blade in its adjusted cutting position. Shifting of the blade out of its aforesaid adjusted position is further prevented by confinement thereof adjacent the cutting edge between the lip 32a and the portion 22 and by confinement adjacent the rear edge between the lips 35a and lip 29.

It will be seen that the transverse sides of the blade 4I snugly engage the marginal flanges 26-21 of the lower plate, so that lateral shifting of the blade is prevented. The cooperation of the lateral anges 2B and 2T with the pin 33 and with the bearing elements 31 positioned in the slots 45 insures the locking of the blade in eective cutting position without the possibility of either lateral or transverse blade displacement during use.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved safety razor wherein a blade il is positioned between a pair of cooperative clamping elements 2li- 3| by means of a split resilient sleeve-type spring 38 acting about bearing elements 3l. The bearing elements are positioned within recesses or similar positioning means carried by the clamping plates themselves, and a continuation; namely, the extension or leg 59; of one of the clamping plates forms an actuating lever for effecting opening movement of the clamping plates against the action of the spring Sii. The sole fastening means for the entire head construction is the spring 3B, and this means, in and of itself, accommodates insertion and removal of a blade by its inherent resiliency and without any complicated mechanical movement.

The blade is supported in a preferred inclined relation to the razor handle Il by means of the spaced surfaces provided by the bottom clamping plate. The surface I9 constitutes the main supporting surface of the lower clamping plate Z, while the portions 22 and 28 contact blade surfaces on each side of that blade surface contacted by the surface I9, so that adequate blade support is insured. Inasmuch as the guard lip iff 23 is positioned below the blade cutting edge 42, it `will be seen that quite an eiective cutting action is provided by the cooperation of these members.

In addition, cleaning of the razor is facilitated without the necessity of removing the blade Si therefrom by the provision of the open sides of the head and the utilization of the spring clip 38 as the sole means securing the plates 20 and 3l together.

it will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

i claim as my invention:

l.. A razor comprising a blade having a longitudinal cutting edge, an aperture adjacent said cutting edge and a longitudinal butt edge opposite said cutting edge; a pair of clamping plates cooperating to secure said blade therebetween; bearing means interposed between said plates; a split resilient sleeve encircling adjacent portions of said plates and said bearing means; one of said plates having an aperture in spaced relation to said resilient sleeve, and a pin carried by the other of said plates and projecting toward said one plate for reception by the aperture therein, said blade being positioned between said plates with its said opposite longitudinal edge bottomed against said resilient sleeve and its said aperture being in registry with the aperture of said one of said plates and receiving said pin therethrough to interlock said blade with said plates against longitudinal and transverse movements relative thereto.

2. A safety razor comprising a pair of clamping plates and a blade clampable therebetween having an aperture adjacent the intermediate portion of the cutting edge thereof, a handle carried by one of said plates, bearing means interposed between confronting faces of adjacent longitudinal edge portions of said plates, a split tubular clamping-spring contacting the oppositely disposed faces of said longitudinal portions to bias said plates into cooperative clamping engagement with said blade about Said bearing means, and a taper-pointed pin fixed to one of said plates and extending substantially normal therefrom toward a registering aperture in said ve other plate and adapted to projecting through the aforesaid apertures of the said blade and other plate to adjust and secure said blade in effective cutting position upon said clampingspring eiecting clamping engagement of said plates with said blade.

3. A safety razor according to claim 2 wherein one of said plates carries transversely spaced marginal portions substantially normal thereto for preventing longitudinal movement of said blade.

e. A safety razor according to claim 3 wherein the butt edge of said blade carries longitudinally spaced notches adapted to receive said bearing means therein when said blade is clamped in effective cutting position by said clampingspring.

5. A safety razor according to claim 4 wherein the clamping plate not carried by the handle incorporates a narrowed medial rear portion which terminates in a depending arm in spaced parallel relation to the upper end portion of said handle, to accommodate manual-actuation of said plates about said bearing means in opposite directions against the biasing force of said clamping-spring, to release the blade from between the aforesaid clamping plates.

6. A safety razor according to claim 5 wherein the clamping plate attached to the handle has a longitudinal edge opposite the handle formed as a guard immediately below and forward of the blade cutting edge, said guard edge containing an elongated slot through which lather ladened with beard-cuttings may be expelled, and further adapted to accommodate utilization cf the full length of the blade cutting edge.

7. ln a safety razor: a single-edged blade; a handle; a lower clamping plate rigid with said handle; a longitudinally slotted blade cutting edge guard portion on said lower plate opposite said handle; an inclined lip portion depending from the opposite edge of said lower plate; an upper clamping plate rotatable with respect to and cooperatirnT with the lower plate to releasably clamp the blade in effective cutting position therebetween, said upper plate terminating at its longitudinal edge adjacent the cutting edge of said blade into an offset marginal portion; and at its opposite longitudinal edge into an inclined lip portion; a depending taper-pointed pin mounted medielly on said marginal portion; aligned longitudinally spaced pairs of confronting depressions formed in said lip portions; a bearing element disposed between each pair of confronting depressions; a split clamping spring sleeve encircling said lip portions and bearing elements, and in distended engagement with the lip portion adjacent regions of said lower and upper clamping plates, said sleeve normally biasing the upper clamping plate against the lower clamping plate; an extending arm integral with the upper plate and including an arcuate segment embracing the portion of said spring sleeve opposite the split therein; and a depending eX- tension integral with said arcuate segment for the application of manual pressure to rotate the upper clamping plate about the bearing elements against the biasing force of the spring sleeve aforesaid.

8. A safety razor according to claim 7, wherein the recited blade includes: a body portion provided with a forward cutting edge opposite a rearward butt edge; a circular aperture disposed medially of the blade formed in the body portion immediately adjacent said cutting edge for the reception of the recited taper-pointed pin; Number Name Date and longitudinally spaced notches formed in the 1,044,863 Cress et a1. Nov. 19, 1912 body portion along said butt .edge for the recep- 1,350,034 Parker Aug. 17, 1920 tion of the recited bearing elements. 1,474,102 Ashmore Nov. 13, 1923 9. A safety razor according to claim '7, Where- 5 1,506,534 Knight Aug. 26, 1924 in the recited depressions -in the lip portions are 1,587,656 Kojima. June 8, 1926 of substantially semi-circular conguration, and 1,739,230 Behlmall DEC- 10, 1929 wherein the bearing elements associated therewith are of spherical conguration. lo

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,424 Smart June 7, 1910 15 

